Councilmember Re-elected, Other JA Candidates Fall Short in OC City Elections

At least three Nikkei were on the ballot on Orange County municipal elections on Nov. 6. The results are as follows:

Warren Kusumoto

In Los Alamitos, City Councilmember Warren Kusumoto was one of three incumbents who were returned to office. Out of six candidates, those elected were Councilmember Mark Chico with 1,602 votes (20.7 percent), Councilmember Shelley Hasselbrink with 1,586 (20.5 percent), Kusumoto with 1,379 (17.8 percent). and consultant and former councilmember Dean Grose with 1,342 (17.3 percent).

In his candidate statement, Kusumoto, an engineer, said, “I have had the honor and privilege to represent and serve you for the past eight years as your councilmember, mayor and mayor pro tem, and your voice. I have accomplished much: the city has an effective leadership team of our city manager, city attorney and city clerk.

“I continue to balance the budget year after year. I focused on the issues and challenges that are important to you — and I addressed and solved each one of them.

“I am seeking your vote to represent you and keep Los Alamitos a place where we are safe and prosperous. Where we continue to keep Los Alamitos a place where we have an equitable balance between the desires and needs of the citizens, community stakeholders and business owners. I will continue to ensure that your tax dollars are spent wisely, prudently and with transparent accountability.

“I have proven to you by my actions that I am your representative, your voice and your advocate. I will always remember that your council works for you, the citizens of the City of Los Alamitos.”

In May, as mayor pro tem, Kusumoto was part of a delegation of local officials from Orange, Riverside and San Diego counties who met with President Trump to discuss their opposition to California’s “sanctuary state” law.

Garrett Wada

In La Palma’s City Council race, optometrist Garrett Wada finished third out of three candidates for two seats. Incumbent and Realtor Michele Steggell and entrepreneur/executive Nitesh Patel were elected with 2,529 votes (38.8 percent and 2,302 (35.3 percent), respectively, followed by Wada with 1,684 (25.8 percent).

A resident of La Palma for 21 years and president of the Suburban Optimist Club Foundation, Wada promised common-sense leadership and fiscal responsibility. He opposed marijuana manufacturing in the city and supported the ongoing modernization and beautification of the city, a dog park, and changing school district lines to allow residents to go to La Palma schools without asking for a transfer.

He said via Facebook, “Well, I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but i didn’t quite get enough votes to be appointed to the La Palma City Council, but I have to say that I genuinely enjoyed the experience and enjoyed meeting all the fantastic residents in our community. I would like to thank all of my supporters who voted for me. It means a lot to me. Through this campaign, I have met many distinguished people. And I am happy to have joined the La Palma Kiwanis Club and will continue to help in our local community.”

In the Anaheim mayor’s race, the top vote-getter out of eight candidates was former councilmember Harry Sidhu with 20,634 votes (34.6 percent), with consumer protection attorney Ashleigh Aitken second with 18,626 (31 percent), former councilmember Lorri Galloway third with 8,846 (14.7 percent) and Orange County Cemetery District Trustee Cynthia Ward fourth with 5,444 (9.1 percent).

Shioura previously ran as a “no party preference” candidate in 2016 in the 50th Congressional District, which includes parts of San Diego and Orange counties and is currently represented by Republican Duncan Hunter. Shioura, who finished in fifth and last place, said that “FUJI” stands for “Family, Unity, Jesus, Integrity.”

A self-described “independent and self-funded pro-life candidate,” Shioura posted the following message on Facebook in August: “Welcome to Mayor.Life, my personal non-partisan initiative to promote, support and expand our constitutional right to life for our soon-to-be-born children and mothers. I am excited to be running for mayor … I am just as excited to have personally met many concerned mothers, fathers, and voters that are an in favor of pro-life initiatives like Mayor.Life. I look forward to inviting my fellow mayoral candidates … join our movement.”

Other API Candidates

Results for other Asian Pacific Islander candidates in OC races include the following:

An election was also held in District 5. The city, which previously had at-large seats on the council, created district maps and put Districts 3 and 4 on the ballot in 2016.

Costa Mesa City Council, District 4 — Manuel Chavez, a California Democratic Party delegate for Assembly District 74, was first with 1,118 votes (57.7 percent), followed by real estate professional Michelle Figueredo-Wilson with 554 (28.6 percent) and Westside neighborhood activist Steve Chan with 267 (13.8 percent).

Fountain Valley City Council — In an eight-way race for three seats, incumbent Michael Vo, owner of Little Saigon Traffic School, was the top vote-getter with 7,106 (16.4 percent). Also elected were Planning Commissioner Patrick Harper with 6,845 (15.8 percent) and community activist Kim Constantine with 6,454 (14.9 percent).

Westminster City Council — In a 13-way race for two seats, the victors were police officer Tai Do with 6,139 (17.2 percent) and Midway City Sanitary District Board President Chi Charlie Nguyen with 5,984 (16.8 percent). Also in double digits were Westminster School District Trustee Jamison Power (5,179, 14.5 percent), small business owner Amy West (4,263,11.9 percent), and Planning Commissioner Anita Rice (4,249,11.9 percent).

Yorba Linda City Council — Incumbent Peggy Huang and Parks & Recreation Commissioner Carlos Rodriguez were elected with 15,454 (41 percent) and 13,338 (35.4 percent), respectively. Community leader and service club member Lourdes Cruz was out of contention with 8,910 (23.6 percent).

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